“One Tree Hill” is Utah bound — plus my take on season 8

Last week, “One Tree Hill” wrapped filming the Wilmington-set scenes of its seventh season. This week, some of the actors and a few of the crew members head to Park City, Utah for a final week of filming. The rumors that “One Tree Hill” would be filming in Utah started a few weeks ago, leading many fans to guess that there would be some sort of Sundance film festival plot in the final episode. That seems increasingly more likely now that we know Park City, home to Sundance, is the show’s ultimate destination. Also, Jana Kramer (Alex) tweeted yesterday that she was heading to Park City, which supports the theory that the Alex-Brooke-Julian movie has Sundance aspirations. Of course, that would likely mean a time jump (the movie was nowhere near finished in the last episode that aired) but time jumps are nothing new to the show.

The location filming is rare for the show, which typically doesn’t venture out of Southeastern North Carolina. Crews have filmed in Charlotte, then ventured out of state to film in Honey Grove, Texas. So while the out-of-town shoot should be a fun departure, it’s also bittersweet for locals. If the show is not picked up for an eighth season, then the final scenes won’t be filmed in Wilmington, its home since 2003. And that just seems wrong.

When “Dawson’s Creek” filmed its final season here in 2003, we knew pretty early that it would be the final season. That let the city send off the show in style, with Riverfront ceremonies and special proclamations. If this is the final “One Tree Hill” season, that announcement may not come till May, and there will be no cast members left in town to honor. And now with the Park City excursion, local crews won’t even get the chance to be there for the final shot. If it is indeed the final shot.

But I don’t think it will be.

I think “One Tree Hill” will be back.

The show’s ratings aren’t stellar this season, but they’re not horrible, either. And while The CW successfully launched “Vampire Diaries” this year, it still is short on new hits (hence the 10th-season pickup of “Smallville” last week”). Many have said that “Life Unexpected” and “One Tree Hill” are vying for the same slot, but I disagree. Like the ratings gurus over at the excellent TV by the Numbers site, I think both shows could be renewed.

My personal theory is that “One Tree Hill” will be picked up — but as a midseason replacement. That way the network can launch new series in the fall (even give “Life Unexpected” a fall launch if they want to renew it) and then have “One Tree Hill” in reserve in case new shows fail. Even if all the new series are successful, the CW’s serialized dramas don’t repeat well, which would allow “Gossip Girl” or “90210″ to take a midseason hiatus while “One Tree Hill” plugs their holes.

The CW did it before — in season five — and it worked out well for everybody. I think they’ll do it again.

Thoughts?

Via : http://tv.blogs.starnewsonline.com/11785/one-tree-hill-is-utah-bound-plus-my-take-on-season-8/?tc=ar